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Merchant Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Associate Merchant- Apparel Your strong communication skills, both written and verbal, along with your spreadsheet and word processing skills make you a great fit for our DT Associate Merchant ...

Category Merchant

Chesapeake, VA · On-site

$148K - $156K/yr

Position Summary The Category Merchant is responsible for driving sales, margin, and inventory productivity for assigned categories within the Family Dollar banner. This role owns end-to-end category ...

Merchant Assistant

Chesapeake, VA · On-site

$20 - $23/hr

The Merchant Assistant provides support to our buyers in a dynamic and fast-paced work environment.As a Merchant Assistant you will function as a liaison between buyers and internal and external ...

Category Merchant

Chesapeake, VA · On-site

$148K - $156K/yr

Position Summary The Category Merchant is responsible for driving sales, margin, and inventory productivity for assigned categories within the Family Dollar banner. This role owns end-to-end category ...

Merchant Assistant

Chesapeake, VA · On-site

$20 - $23/hr

The Merchant Assistant provides support to our buyers in a dynamic and fast-paced work environment. As a Merchant Assistant you will function as a liaison between buyers and internal and external ...

Category Merchant - Pets Your merchandise planning, assortment planning, and category management experience along with your market and trend analysis experience make you a great fit for our DT ...

Category Merchant - Pets Your merchandise planning, assortment planning, and category management experience along with your market and trend analysis experience make you a great fit for our DT ...

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Showing results 1-20

Merchant information

See Virginia salary details

$15

$18

$20

How much do merchant jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 15, 2026, the average hourly pay for merchant in Virginia is $18.11, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.92 and $19.33 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a merchant?

Merchants are individuals or businesses that buy and sell goods or services, typically for profit. They act as intermediaries between producers and consumers, sourcing products and making them available to customers through various channels like physical stores, online platforms, or marketplaces. Merchants can specialize in different types of products, and their responsibilities often include inventory management, pricing, marketing, and customer service. In modern commerce, the term 'merchant' is also used to describe sellers on e-commerce platforms.

What does a merchant do?

A Merchant is someone who works in a retail environment selling products to customers. A Merchant works at stores of various sizes, selling a wide range of goods in face-to-face transactions or digitally through online shopping. Regardless of your sales method, the position of Merchant can describe anyone from ownership or store management to part-time sales clerks. As such, your responsibilities will focus ultimately on customer sales and satisfaction, but can also involve purchasing, inventory control, physical or virtual store design, team leadership, and other business-related functions. Your exact responsibilities will depend greatly on your role within in the store and the type of business it is.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a merchant, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Merchant, you need strong analytical skills, a solid understanding of market trends, and experience in merchandising or retail management, often supported by a relevant degree. Familiarity with inventory management systems, point-of-sale software, and data analysis tools is typically required. Excellent negotiation, communication, and relationship-building skills are essential for managing vendors and driving sales. These capabilities ensure effective product selection, inventory control, and profitable business operations in a competitive marketplace.

What are some common challenges merchants face when managing multiple product lines?

Merchants often juggle several product categories, each with unique suppliers, customer preferences, and sales cycles. Balancing inventory levels, forecasting demand accurately, and ensuring timely promotions can be challenging, especially when market trends shift rapidly. Effective collaboration with buyers, marketing teams, and supply chain partners is crucial to keep product assortments fresh and meet customer expectations. Staying agile and leveraging data analytics can help merchants navigate these complexities and drive successful outcomes.

What is the difference between Merchant vs Sales Associate?

AspectMerchantSales Associate
Required CredentialsHigh school diploma; experience in retail or salesHigh school diploma; customer service skills
Work EnvironmentRetail stores, online platforms, wholesaleRetail stores, showrooms, events
Industry UsageCommerce, retail, e-commerceRetail, customer service, sales
Common Search/ComparisonBusiness management, product sourcingCustomer interaction, sales techniques

While both Merchants and Sales Associates work in retail environments, Merchants focus on product sourcing, inventory management, and business operations, whereas Sales Associates primarily engage with customers to drive sales and provide service. Understanding these roles helps clarify career paths and employer expectations in the retail industry.

What skills do merchants need?

Merchants need strong communication and customer service skills to interact effectively with clients. They should also have good sales abilities, basic financial knowledge, and familiarity with point-of-sale systems and inventory management tools. Organizational skills and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment are also important.

What are the most commonly searched types of Merchant jobs in Virginia?

The most popular types of Merchant jobs in Virginia are:

What are popular job titles related to Merchant jobs in Virginia?

For Merchant jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Merchant job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $37,674 per year, or $18.1 per hour.

Associate Merchant - Apparel

Chesapeake, VA • On-site

Dollar Tree
Retail • 10K+ employees

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 24 days ago


Dollar Tree rating

4.5

Company rating: 4.5 out of 10

Based on 2,554 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

Associate Merchant- Apparel
Your strong communication skills, both written and verbal, along with your spreadsheet and word processing skills make you a great fit for our DT Associate Merchant position. Join our dynamic team today and find a rewarding career with a company that values you and all you bring to the table.
About Your Role:
As a DT Associate Merchant at Dollar Tree's corporate office, you'll support the Category Director and Category Merchants by providing assistance with all merchandising business processes for all channels (including assortment development, execution of the merchandising strategy, and implementing merchandising plans for Dollar Tree Stores). Your day-to-day job duties include, but are not limited to, the following:
Category Strategy & Product Development
  • Responsible for providing analysis and research to assist in the development of the Category Strategy.
  • Consulted on the assortment definition and product selection for their respective Category.
  • Responsible for providing analysis and research to assist in the definition of the assortment.
  • Consulted on product development activities for their respective Category.
  • Responsible for developing copy and text in support of Marketing for Category product.
  • Provide input to the selection of products from their respective Category to be included in a promotional program. Consulted on activities to ensure the products are appropriately represented in a promotion.
  • Responsible for development and approval of all plan-o-guides, display guides, flow guides, and planners for their respective Category.
  • Provide input to the Weekly Business Reviews and Monthly P&L of their respective Category. Consulted on potential Merchandising business and systems improvement initiatives.

  • Vendor Management & Market Analysis
  • Responsible for evaluating vendor performance and recommending sources of supply to the Category Merchant and Category Director.
  • Responsible for preparing analysis and reporting to support vendor meetings.
  • Consulted on the identification of new sources of supply, preparation for overseas buying trips, vendor selection, and cost negotiations.
  • Consulted on all financial and assortment planning activities for their respective Category.
  • Consulted on the management of vendor relationships within their respective Category.

Your Required Skills and Experience:
  • Bachelor's Degree
  • 3 + years' of related Merchandise/Buying experience
  • Strong communication skills, both written and verbal
  • Spreadsheet and word processing skills
  • Detail oriented
  • Strong organizational skills
  • Able to work independently
  • Creativity
  • Ability to build strong relationships and work well within a team.

Preferred Requirements:
  • Retail/discount merchandising experience

Our success is a team effort -
when we reach our goals, you'll be eligible for a yearly bonus!
Your Perks and Benefits:
We offer a wide variety of rewards to support your health, wealth, and mental well-being. In addition to medical, pharmacy, dental, and vision insurance, we offer:

  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Retirement plans with matching contribution
  • Employee Stock Purchase Program
  • Educational Assistance
  • Access to PerkSpot, an employee discount platform for goods and services
  • And much more!

Start Rate = $75,000-$100,000K based on experience plus 20% bonus and equity.
The company offers Health, Dental, & Vision, a flexible spending account, life and disability insurance benefits, a 401k plan, PTO, paid holidays annually, and an employee stock purchase plan.
Full time
500 Volvo Parkway,Chesapeake,Virginia 23320
Buying
Dollar Tree

What Dollar Tree employees say

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About Dollar Tree

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

With Dollar Tree and Family Dollar, we put value front and center for our customers. We do this by providing our customers with quality merchandise, amazing values, convenience, and a fun shopping experience. Whether you’re looking for the thrill of the hunt at Dollar Tree or shopping for your favorite brands at Family Dollar, you’re sure to find savings on a great selection of merchandise in our stores.

Industry

Retail

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Chesapeake, VA, US